Peru with Compassion International

In June 2026, Janet and I spent a week in Peru on a Compassion International Vision Trip. We two days visiting Compassion’s Frontline Church Partners in Lima and three days around Cajamarca. It was an emotionally heavy trip, seeing the conditions in which children lived, but also heartwarming and hopeful to see how successful the Church can be in these situations, especially when partnered with Compassion. Below are my daily blogs, written each night to capture the raw feelings, and a reflection post (TBC).

Peru with Compassion Day 1

Janet and I are visiting Peru with Compassion International on a Vision Trip to learn about their front line operations. Compassion’s mission is “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.” In the US, we had primarily just seen their efforts to get families to sponsor one of their children. The goal of the trip is…

Peru with Compassion Day 2

We met at 6:15am to catch our 1.5-hour internal flight from Lima to Cajamarca, and then drive straight to one of Compassion’s church partners in the city. The city is at 8600 ft and we could feel the altitude. On arrival at the church, we were greeted by the church staff and participants in Compassion’s…

Peru with Compassion Day 3

After two amazingly full days, we were happy to have a late start at 9:45, but the rest of the day made up for it in a remarkable way! I made the most of the late start to check out our hotel grounds. We are staying at a hotel in central Cajamarca at the site…

Peru with Compassion Day 4

Today was lighter, yet still full. We headed out at 9:45 because the church, Lily of the Valley, was close to our hotel. The area is known as Banos del Inca as it is around the hot springs by the hotel. It is quite touristy, but the more affluent facade hides poverty one or two…

Peru with Compassion Day 5

Janet and I welcomed the one-hour ride in a comfortable coach to our first stop of the day. We were both feeling emotionally exhausted, with this trip building on top of our daughter’s wedding two days before we left. Our first stop was to pick up one of Cynthia’s sponsored girls, and we were advised…

Peru with Compassion Day 6

Our schedule labeled this day as a cultural-experience day, though I saw its main purpose as a chance to decompress from five days in poverty. It allowed me to start reflecting, and to realize that a well-dressed touristy facade or rich business district can hide extreme poverty just a few blocks away. We had hoped…